Automobile bumper



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,677 A. J. MUSSELMAN AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed April 2o, 1927 Patented Aug. 21, 1928;

ALVIN J. MUSSELMAN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE nuiurnn.

Application filed April 20, 1927. Serial No. 185,205. g

i This invention relates to automobile bumpers and is particularly concerned with bumpers of the pneumatic type. It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a pneumatic bumper which, by reason of its novel construction, completely eliminates any inner air carrymg tube, use being made only of a single tube which may be cut from a length of the proper tubular material so that it has open ends and filling and completely closing said. ends by a novel construction which positively precludes any escape of air from the pneumatic member of v the bumper. A furtherv object of the invention isto provide a bumper member and a backing therefor attached in such manner.

that inflation of the pneumatic member of the bumper causes the same to press tightly against the backing member. and securely hug the same. Many other objects and purposes than those stated will be apparent understanding of the inventionis hadffrom the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

i which,

Figure 1 is atop plan View of an auto- I mobile bumper embodying the invention apconcaved on its outer face as shown in Fig.-

plied to an automobile frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of an end of the bumper showing the same partly in. section; 7 c

' Fig. 3 is an end elevationlof the same; and i Figs. 1 and 5 are enlarged sections on the lines 1 and 5 respectivelyof Fig. 1.

The embodiment illustrated comprises an automobile bumper consisting essentially of a frame A which is adapted to be secured to the frame B of an automobile chassis, the

frame carrying a pneumatic tubular member C.

The frame A as illustrated comprises a channel member 10 which preferably is made 4 to receive the pneumatic tubular member C which is preferably circular in cross'sec-v tion, although it will be understood that sections of various forms may be used if desired.

The channel 10 is carried upon a flat yieldable spring member 11 which passes through brackets 12, the latter being secured by means of bolts 13 to the chassis frame B.

An elliptical spring member 14 or the like may be used to connect the center of the member 10 to the spring member 11.

The tubular pneumaticmember C ismade and rubber rolled to the desired size and shape and vulcanized In 'anywell known manner. Any of the well known processes and materials used in the making of the fabric and cord tires and hose (maybe used in making this pneumatic tube.

Each end of the tube is closed bym'eans up of atube 15 which is composed of fabric of a metal. cap 16 which is inserted intoeach end of the tube and in practice" the outer sides of the cap arecoveredwith shellac or other equivalent cement prior to such inser-.

tion. An air valve 17 is secured in onefof these capsand th s is adapted to receive a well known type of fitting commonly'used' for filling automobile tires with air.

I I In the embodiment shown a clamp 18 of flat bar metal is located around each end of the tube over the same where it presses against'the cap 16. The clamp 18 hasoutwardly extending ears between'which an eye '11 of the spring member 11 is located,a

bolt 19 passing through said ears and the eye and serving to bind the end of tube C against the outer sides of the cap 16 making a connection which precludes anyescape of air between the inner walls of the tube and the outer sides of the end-closin g cap 16.

It will be observed in Figs; land 2 that [I the end of the channel member 10 is cut away at 10 to receive the ears of. theficlamp 18) Thus, in assembling, the rubber tube 15 li'en deflatedis slightly longer than the channel member 10 or it may be stretched sufficiently that the clamps '18 can bereadily inserted into the recess 10 after which the bolts 19 are secured in place.

On inflating the rubber tube with air through the valve 17 the tube 15 is increased in diameter and decreased in length so as to draw it'snugly down against the channel member 10. This member, as will be observed in Fig. 1, is slightly arched in the center and given a fairly good curve at the ends so that this shortening action when infiated causes it to hug the channel member throughout its length. With a bumper of the type described economy in manufacture is secured. The tube from which the pneu- I caps 16 which close the ends ofthe tube are economy inm'anui acjture. The iClQaOfPDBLP of cheap and economical construction are inserted easily in theends of the tube and the clamps 18 are very quickly and easily applied, and when onced'rawnk t o posit-realise sure against any escape of air. The use of lnner tubes to hold air is Wholly-avoided;

Inflating the tube increases its diameterand tends to shorten the tube in 1ength,'whereby the pneumatictube C firmly and securely hugs the backing member 10 in the sameway that an,-infiated pneumatic tire grips a tire rim around which it is placed. Assembly 1s very, quick, and easy. The bumper described is one commercially practical due to its teliability in holding and maintaining the air pressure as it should be and due also; to its matic bumpers broadly is not new, but all designs which. have heretofore been made havejfbeen impractical, chiefly byreason of the impossibility of manufacturing the same 'at a cost, which Would not be prohibitive.

The structure which I have devised by the elimination of expensive parts is practical from every standpoint and has so prov-edin service.-

While I; have shown and described but a single embodiment of this invention, it is concavecross-section, saidmember beingarcuate', a2 pneumatic tube. secured in the con;

cave portion of said arcuate member,- an

airgvalve on said tube,- a clamp at-each end ofsaid tube having laterally projecting ears adapted to engage in, notches onthe ends, of saidsupporting members,

2 In an automobile bumper, support having an elongated backing member of curved form and a pneumatic iacing therefor comprising tube of air-tight material having means adapting it to be inflated and having open ends, plugs closing the open ends-of said tube, means for clamping the end portions of said tube tightly against said plugs tofmake air-tight connections,

aiirhmeans for securing said clainpingmeans to the ends of saitl'il Support whereby on infl'ating said pneumatic member the ends thereof are held against movement and the pneumatic inemb'er is brought into tight hugging engagementfwith said ci'irved s'upport.

3. In an'an'tomobile bumper, an elongated cu'rvedjsufpport, a singlepneumatic tube having means adapting it t-obe' inflated; located against the frontside of saidsupport, said tubehav-ing open ends, plugs closing the ends of aidtn'be, and meansfoi clamping the endsof the tube against, said plugs to make airtight connections, said meanshavingdetachable connection with the ends of said support. v J u,

4., In an automobile bumper, an elongated curved car support o'fcone'a'vecross section,

apneumatic tube located'inthe concave side of said support,,sa1d tube having open ends,

met'al'members filling the ends of'saidtube,

and means for clamping the ends of the tube against saidmetal me'mbers to make air-tight joints, and 'meansfor connecting saidlast mentioned means tothe ends of the support.

5; Inanautomobilej bumper, an elongated curved supporting member offjconcave cross section, a pneumatic tube secured inthe con cave portionof said; supporting member, an air valveccarried by saidtube,'plugs closing the open; ends of; thetube, clamps clamping the ends of the tube on said plugs, and means for detachably securing said; clamps to the supporting, member.

ends of the v J MUSSELMAN 

